600 Miles In 14 Hours!!! [Archive] - The Sportster and Buell Motorcycle Forum

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Rian

9th June 2008, 11:57

01Sporty

9th June 2008, 12:09

Disclaimer: I have NOT personally done it.

The "Lake Erie Loop",which is a charity run. Most of these guys do it with small bore engines, no less. I've gone out only as moral support, spent the weekend camping check it out; http://www.lakeerieloop.com/

At night after they all get back, it's great, just listening to the stories. My son (14) wants to do the ride next year, I doubt have that much stamina :tour

Ride Safe,

Dave

Weo

9th June 2008, 12:26

Other might disagree with my opinion/suggestions but here you go...

I used to live in Minnesota, and would drive my bikes to Illinois for the winters (family; about 650 miles one way). The ride would generally take me 7 hours if I didn't screw around at the gas stops too much. The most important thing, IMO, is just being comfortable in the saddle. I ended taking most of those trips on a 600cc sport bike (CBR). With my Sportster the way it is now (apes, shaved seat), I would need more back support for anything over 100 miles (i.e. bag to lean against or seat with back support). Also, I know that when I had my custom "metal only" pegs that they would put my feet to sleep after 30 miles highway, so I went back to the stock pegs which have good cushion built in.

If I remember correctly you have apes. It's hard to lean your body into the wind. 45mph isn't too bad, but if you guys have long stretches above that speed you might consider a small windshield.

Some others might chime in here with suggested tools and tire plug kit to take along. I don't know the quality of the roads you will be traveling either. Have fun! :)

Bob F

9th June 2008, 13:10

The Iron Butt site has tons of tips for long rides:
http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm

The technical information provided in these pages serves two purposes. First, it is to explain the standards that will be used to determine the acceptability of certain modifications for motorcycles entered in the Iron Butt Rally. Second, it is to describe modifications that have been successfully used by other riders.

bearsfan

9th June 2008, 13:19

The Iron Butt site has tons of tips for long rides:
http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm

:iagree IBA is an awesome site to reference! :iagree

gieser

18th June 2008, 07:38

i just rode 450 miles round trip to the dragstrip, took alittle over 3 hours each way, not too bad of a ride, i could of done it much quicker but i was following my buddies truck and trailer the whole time, and my bike has no back rest, drag bars, solid pegs and grips, no windsheild, vibrates much more then most sportsters and it was only 55*F on the mourning trip, so give it a whirl, your ass will go numb after awhile then the miles you put on after that don't seem to matter, good luck.

Takingabreak

18th June 2008, 08:16

I rode from Portland to Los Angles in two days, 1280 miles.

I didn't think it was anything special.

Brad

18th June 2008, 11:05

Has anyone ever done something like this over more or less time or distance?
Got any tips?

And... Yes, I am gonna do this on my Sporty!

I recently did 891 miles in about 15 - 16 hours. (I did the trip out in two days, but came back in one shot) I bought a full face helmet for the return trip and felt a lot less beat up than I did on the two day leg where I wore a 3/4. (200 miles on the first day, 700 miles in about 13 hours on one day)

So for long days in the saddle at speed, I'd suggest a full face.

josephthreedogs

18th June 2008, 14:52

1000 miles in 18 hours, on a Harley. Have done it in 16 hours ao a Honda ST1300.

decman

18th June 2008, 15:00

I've also done 1000 miles in 18 hours on a sporty.
Did not plan it, juts happened that way.
Good seat and back support.

Dec

BTW, a normal day for me is 500 to 850 miles in a day or sun up to sun down.

jamez1965

18th June 2008, 15:04

Riding 600 miles in South Africa may be entirely different than here in the States. But having said that, 600 miles in 14 hours doesn't sound bad. I've ridden to Myrtle Beach from Ohio and back quite a few times. Only once so far on the Sporty. 633 miles one way, usually takes me about 12 to 13 hours with stops to eat, gas up, etc.

snowman

18th June 2008, 15:14

Did just under 700 miles in about 12 hours two years ago. Mostly highway but it was a lot of fun doing the ride...:wonderlan :wonderlan :wonderlan

murphyslaw

18th June 2008, 15:54

I rode from Portland to Los Angles in two days, 1280 miles.

I didn't think it was anything special.

I did Portland to Riverside on my '86 yamaha 440 in 14hrs

mk2wilson

18th June 2008, 16:17

Last summer I did a 750 mile ride in just under12 hours. Then came back the next day. It really wasn't that bad at all. I had the HD sundowner seat and highway pegs, but that was it as far as comfort.

Quay

19th June 2008, 02:47

This year our chapter (HOG Johannesburg - South Africa) will be organizing the 1st "Blister Butt" run for Harleys... Yip, 600 miles in 14 hours. With an hour or so in total for stops, refuelling etc. that gives 13 hours to do 600 miles (giving the minimum average speed of 46 miles per hour for 13 hours by my calcs).
...Then... you still got to get home the next day!!!
Has anyone ever done something like this over more or less time or distance?
Got any tips?
And... Yes, I am gonna do this on my Sporty!

I don't commute and rarely run errands on my Sportster, with weekend putts accounting for 98% of the mileage. Getting out of town generally means rides of 300-600 miles for a "day ride". 11,500 miles in a year and a half using that system. Very little use in November - April, due to our Washington rains.

Rian

5th August 2008, 09:19

Report back...
C_C_C_C_C_C_COLD COLD COLD is all I can say!
Ended up riding in 2 degree (celcius) weather for most of the day and then hit rain as well. I ended up doing it in 11 and 1/2 half hours (and I still wasn't 1st !!! )
Toughest ride of my life, just glad I still have all my fingers!